Knowing what to claim as taxable and nontaxable income can reduce your tax liability. Here's what you should know.
Key Takeaways
• Income received as wages, salaries, commissions, rental income, royalty payments, stock options, dividends and interest, and self-employment income are taxable. Unemployment compensation generally is taxable.
• Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.
• Money from a qualified scholarship isn't taxable, but if you use the money for room and board or to pay other personal expenses, that portion is normally taxable.
• Miscellaneous income is taxable. This can include the remaining amount of a debt or loan that is canceled, employer contributions to an unqualified retirement plan, and sickness, injury, and disability retirement payments from an employer-paid plan.
What's not taxable
Nontaxable income won’t be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS:
- Inheritances, gifts and bequests
- Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer
- Alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018)
- Child support payments
- Most healthcare benefits
- Money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions
- Welfare payments
Under certain circ*mstances, the following items may be nontaxable. TurboTax can help you determine what should be included in your return.
- Money you receive from a life insurance policy when someone dies is not taxable. However, if you cash in a life insurance policy, then a portion, if not all of it, is likely taxable.
- Money from a qualified scholarship is not taxable. However, if you use the money for room and board, or use it to pay other personal expenses, that portion is normally taxable.
Compensation
Generally, income can be received in three ways: money, services and property. But, you can also pay tax on income not yet in your bank account. For example, if you receive a check but don’t cash it by the end of the tax year, it is still considered income for the year you received the check.
The IRS requires that you declare all income on your return. This can include:
- Wages
- Salaries
- Commissions
- Strike pay
- Rental income
- Alimony (for divorce decrees finalized before 2019)
- Royalty payments
- Stock options, dividends and interest
- Self-employment income
Typically, unemployment compensation is also considered taxable income. However, for the 2020 tax year, up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits can be excluded from income. If you are married, each spouse can exclude this amount. Amounts over this remain taxable and if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is greater than $150,000 then you can't exclude any unemployment compensation.
TurboTax Tip: Fringe benefits received for services you render are usually considered taxable income, even if someone else receives them, such as your spouse. Taxable benefits may include a company-paid off-site gym membership, a company vehicle for personal use, and holiday gifts from your employer.
Income from fringe benefits
If you receive fringe benefits for services you render, they are usually considered taxable income, even if someone else receives them, such as your spouse. These taxable benefits and perks may include:
- A company-paid off-site gym membership
- A company vehicle for personal use
- Holiday gifts in the form of cash or gift certificates from your employer
- A certain portion of employer-paid dependent care
- Company-paid tuition fees over a certain amount
- Company-paid financial counseling fees
- Employer-paid group life insurance over a certain amount
Miscellaneous income
Income that may not be readily identified as taxable but generally must be included on your tax return includes:
- Employer contributions to an unqualified retirement plan
- The fair-market value of property received for your services
- Disability retirement payments from an employer-paid plan
- Sickness and injury payments from an employer-paid plan
- Property and services for which you bartered
- Money and income from offshore accounts
- The remaining amount of a debt or loan that is canceled or forgiven
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FAQs
Nontaxable income won't be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests. Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer.
What is the difference between taxable income and nontaxable income? ›
Income that is taxable must be reported on your return and is subject to tax. Income that is nontaxable may have to be shown on your tax return but is not taxable. A list is available in Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.
What explains a difference between income and taxable income? ›
Gross income includes all income you receive that isn't explicitly exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Taxable income is the portion of your gross income that's actually subject to taxation. Allowable deductions are subtracted from gross income to arrive at your taxable income.
What should I put for non taxable income? ›
Non-taxable income is income that is not subject to tax by the government. Most common tax-free income are gifts and government need-based benefits. You are not required to report non-taxable income on your tax return.
How do you calculate taxable and non taxable income? ›
For individual filers, calculating federal taxable income starts by taking all income minus “above the line” deductions and exemptions, like certain retirement plan contributions, higher education expenses, student loan interest, and alimony payments, among others.
Which of the following are examples of nontaxable income? ›
However, some other employer-provided benefits and fringe benefits are not taxable. Examples include employer-provided health insurance, up to $50,000 of group term life insurance provided by your employer, and employer contributions to your health savings account (HSA) if you have one.
What is the difference between tax free and taxable income? ›
In the taxable scenario, taxes are applied annually while in the tax-deferred scenario, the investment is not taxed until the money is withdrawn. In the tax-free scenario, the money is an investment that is not subject to Federal or State tax.
What best describes taxable income? ›
Taxable income refers to the portion of your income that can be taxed by the government. This includes wages, salaries, tips, and any other sources of income you might have, like rental properties, capital gains from stock investments or gambling winnings.
How to report non-taxable income? ›
Non taxable income is money or property you've received from certain sources which are not subject to federal or state income tax under the Internal Revenue Code or state tax regulations. Non taxable income is generally not required to be reported on your tax return.
What is the difference between taxable income and income tax? ›
Taxable income is the amount of income that is subject to tax… Usually the total amount of income that you earned during a year by employment, dividends, interest, etc.… Income tax is the amount of money that you actually pay in taxes.
Most income is taxable unless it's specifically exempted by law. Income can be money, property, goods or services. Even if you don't receive a form reporting income, you should report it on your tax return. Income is taxable when you receive it, even if you don't cash it or use it right away.
What's my taxable income? ›
Taxable income includes wages, salaries, tips and bonuses. It also includes investment income and unearned income.
Which of these examples is taxable income? ›
What are some examples of income that is taxable? Money earned through a salary, wages, and self-employment income are some of the most common types of taxable income. Other types include royalties, commissions, rental income, and strike pay.
What is the meaning of non taxable income? ›
Nontaxable income won't be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests. Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer. Alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018)
What are the four steps to calculating your taxable income? ›
Here are the four steps:
- Step 1: Determine your filing status. ...
- Step 2: List all forms of your taxable income. ...
- Step 3: Calculate adjusted gross income (AGI) ...
- Step 4: Subtract deductions from AGI to determine taxable income.
Taxable income is your gross income minus allowable deductions. It's the income you have to pay tax on. It includes income from any of these: wages and salary which is your normal weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay.
What is considered taxable income? ›
Most income is taxable unless it's specifically exempted by law. Income can be money, property, goods or services. Even if you don't receive a form reporting income, you should report it on your tax return. Income is taxable when you receive it, even if you don't cash it or use it right away.
What is the tax-exempt income? ›
Tax-exempt income is income from any source which the Federal, state, or local government does not include when implementing its income tax. Individuals and organizations may have to report this income on a tax return, but the income will not be considered when determining their tax liability.
Is it bad to have no taxable income? ›
Typically, if you do not have any taxable income, you do not need to file a tax return. However, the stimulus payments in recent years have shown us how important it is to have your information updated with the IRS, so filing returns without any taxable income has become very normal.
